Mystran rest

[Anastasia]

Deeper down in the manor. At the bottom is a statue of Shar - a good likeness, down to her cold and yet smugly vicious face - which bursts in a blast of moonfire, the statue decapitated. Two curtain covered doorways lead deeper in here, a distant sound her.

Song.

A song you've heard before, a song as sweet as the last breath that frees you from a lifetime of pain. The Song of Ending echos from deeper within.

[Ebiris]

Marie swaps her song now, counter-singing against Shar as she's often done since becoming a tulani.

5 minutes on the clock for inspire heroics, Marie is now on countersong duty.

Alicia meanwhile nods in approval to Phoebe and determines where to go next.

Does tremorsense/blindsight give an idea of the layout past the curtains so I know if one leads to an immediate dead end? Which one is the singing coming from? Any magic?

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16

Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4

[Anastasia]

You can 'see' ahead. Twin passages merge together into one great room. Here many bow and pay respect before a portal, from which the song comes through. A great altar of Shar is here, the vile energies of it like acid against your mind.

[Ebiris]

"Portal's ahead, the song's coming from it," Alicia says. While Shar can of course make her song heard across planes, it's concerning and suggests that she might have one of her avatars inside this demiplane.

Assuming it is a demiplane and not say a portal to the plane of shadow.

Either way, her sword cuts down one of the curtains as she advances through.

[Anastasia]

The curtain falls apart just like that, reduced to ribbons.

"Forward," Latha agrees, aglow now. The party hurries in as...

Perform check, Marie.

[Ebiris]

[20:21] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+59 perform
[20:21] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 76 > [d20=17]

[Anastasia]

Marie's song battles the song of loss as you proceed. It is war against one another as you approach. Here Sharrans bow and pay homage before a swirling purple portal, the song coming forth from within. They do not react to your presence, only praising Shar all the while.

[Ebiris]

Alicia gives them reason to react as she reaches the centre of the room, her divine presence felt in all its fearful glory. "Flee," she commands them.

Divine Aura, 50 foot radius frightened effect. DC 33 will negates. Unless Phoebe happens to be lawful good she'll have to make a save herself unfortunately. Marie can't fail it so not rolling for her.

Spoiler: ShowHide

Alicia HP: 903+20/903
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 39), extended nondetection (CL 39), greater heroism (CL 36), extended ray deflection (CL 39), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), greater foresight (CL 38), keen edge (CL 36 on sword), dance of the unicorn (CL 36), extended greater anticipate teleportation (CL 38), repelling shield (CL 38), freedom of movement (CL 36), greater visage of the deity (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38)
Defences: AC 97, CMD 127, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, fire and cold), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 54), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +10 armour AC, +25 competence perception, +7 insight AC/ref, +12 str, +8 con, +2 int, +4 wis, +4 cha, +3 natural armour AC, -1 size attack/AC, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Arcane sight, true seeing, 5 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +87
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/16/16/14/9/9/15/9/9/6/8/3/7/6/6/3
Duskblade spell slots: 6/23/22/23/11/7/16

Marie HP: 720+20/720
Active spells: Many moments of prescience (CL 38), extended mind blank (CL 36), extended nondetection (CL 36), greater heroism (CL 36), greater arcane sight (CL 36), epic mage armour (CL 36), sensual blessing (CL 36), repelling shield (CL 36), freedom of movement (CL 36), recitation (CL 36), true seeing (CL 36), bibliotheca arcana (CL 36), death ward (CL 36), energy immunity - cold (CL 38), superior invisibility (CL 40)
Defences: AC 105, CMD 99, spell resistance 51, energy immunity (negative, cold, electricity, fire, sonic), status immunity (polymorph, petrification, disease, poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability damage, ability drain, mind-affecting, and fear), nondetection (DC 51), freedom of movement
Stat buffs/penalties: +4 morale attack/skills, +25 competence perception, +9 shield AC, +3 luck AC/attack/saves, +10 morale saves, +10 dodge AC
Perceptions: Greater arcane sight, true seeing, 1 mile tremorsense/blindsight/scent perception +81
Sorcerer spell slots: 6/9/10/8/8/9/9/7/7/8/7/4/6/7/4

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20 with bonuses in play this is a 1 check for Phoebe
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 13 > [d20=13]
> roll 1d20+28 Sharrans (+6 ???)
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 38 > [d20=10]

Fear ripples throughout as the profane worship stops. Yet they withstand it - for from the portal she emerges. Her step is soft and light, as Shar emerges. Her head is bowed and eyes are closed, this mere presence enough to fortify them against your will.

Instantly moonfire explodes against Shar, as her hand lashes up, a short sword in it. It's enough to parry the explosion entirely, the color and vitality from it gone with a single pass of her blade.

It is some small consolation that you can feel this is only an avatar.

"Alicia. Marie. Latha. Phoebe. I welcome you," Shar whispers, head bowed.

[Ebiris]

It was only a matter of time before this was going to happen, but still it feels too soon.

Then again with Shar recently bragging about her ultimate victory, this was never going to be on their own schedule.

Shar can roll against the aura too - she's an avatar, she might roll a 1! Actually I'll roll the rank check first since I think DvR 0 still has immunity to mind affecting.

[17:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 rank check
[17:22] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 20 > [d20=11]

"Shar," Alicia says, as Marie's singing stops (assuming Shar's did, otherwise she'll keep going). "We've finally found something you'll go this far to defend?"

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 19 > [d20=19]
> roll 1d20+70
<Penuche> Kotono invokes Penuche's magic: < 81 > [d20=11]

"Shar," Phoebe's voice is like ice, yet fire swirls around her as Latha adjusts her grip on her mace. She silently switches to Clarenyre, which cackles with holy flames that batter against the darkness before you.

"I invite you within," Shar declares, "This is but the opening act. What lies within the portal is what is worthy of our attentions."

[Ebiris]

"Something you've built... or something you've found?" Alicia asks, curious at Shar's phrasing. Something worthy of her own attention more implies it's something she's come across and taken an interest in.

As much as this is certain to devolve into violence, she's unsure if they can actually win. May as well try to gather information before they have to retreat.

Marie's false form watches from Latha's flank while the real Marie is further back behind Phoebe.

[Anastasia]

"Explain yourself," Latha agrees, as her sword burns.

That sword draws Shar's gaze for a moment, a look of curious interest before, "Come and see," she says, a step back into the portal, her voice lingering as she does. "These worshipers here are nothing to us."

[Ebiris]

"Well that's an ominous invitation," Marie says, studying the portal.

Alicia does the same even as she admits, "We're not served by ignorance. It's a provocation we can't ignore."

[18:18] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41 CL for Alicia's arcane sight
[18:18] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 59 > [d20=18]
[18:19] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+37 CL for Marie's greater arcane sight
[18:19] <Penuche> Ebiris invokes Penuche's magic: < 42 > [d20=5]

[Anastasia]

It's a portal into a demiplane, alright. It's not trapped in the least.

"And it's likely stepping into a nightmare of Shar's making," Latha declares, "We know well what we step into, do we not?"

"Hell and torment," Phoebe says, but does not hesitate. "If not us to step into the darkness, then who?"